Leg-supporting means for obstetrical beds



Jan. 19, 1937. A. COMPER LEG SUPPORTING MEANS FOR OBSTETRICAL BEDS IFiled Dec. 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITEDSTATES actress 'i OFFME LEG-SUPPORTING MEANS FOR OBSTETRICAL BEDSApplication December 27, 1935, Serial No. 56,378

11 Claims.

The invention aims to provide a new and improved, unusually simple,rapidly and easily adjustable leg supporting means for use primarilyupon beds designed for the delivery of infants, the construction beingsuch that the legs of the prospective mother, regardless of her size,may be comfortably supported in any of the various positions which maybe required, without any parts of the supporting means obstructing thenecessary movements of the attending physician.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplishedby reference to the accompanying drawmgs.

Fig. '1 is a perspective view showing an obstetrical bed or tableequipped with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the leg supports.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the support shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing portions of the clamping andadjusting means for the saddle which underlies the knee.

Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are side elevations illustrating different positionsof adjustment.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation partly in vertical section.

A preferred construction has been shown and will be specificallydescribed, with the understanding however, that within the scope of theinvention as claimed, variations may be made.

The invention is shown upon an obstetrical bed which includes avertically adjustable and tiltable track frame I2, a frame I3 slidablealon said track frame I2 and carrying a mattress section I4, and a dropframe I5 carrying another mattress section I 6. Before the patient ismoved to delivery position, the frame I3 and its mattress section I4occupy a position toward the head of the bed, the frame I5 and mattresssection It being then in a raised position at which they abut the frameI3 and mattress section I 4. As the delivery time approaches, however,the frame I5 and mattress section I6 are lowered as seen in thedrawings, and the frame I3 and its mattress section :4 are moved alongthe main frame I2 to the position shown. The improved leg supportsare'carried by the frame 43 and the patients legs may be engaged withsaid supports before dropping the frame I5 and sliding the frame I3 withthe patient lying thereon, to the foot portion of the frame I2.

The corners of the frame I3 toward the foot of the bed, are providedwith fixed vertical clamps 5 I! having hand levers or the like I8 bymeans of which they may be contracted or released. The vertical portionsI9 of inverted L-shaped brackets 20 are received in the clamps I! forrotative adjustment, the horizontal portions 2I 10 of these bracketsbeing provided with vertical clamps 22 having hand levers or the like 22by means of which they may be contracted and released. Vertical rods 23are received for vertical and rotative adjustment in the clamps 22, theupper ends of these rods being provided with horizontal bracket arms 24integrally joined thereto, each of said bracket arms having alongitudinal slot'25.

Leg-supporting saddles 26 of longitudinally angular, transverselychannel-shape form are disposed at the inner sides of the bracket arms24, and two contacting plates 21 and 28 are interposed between eachbracket arm and the adjacent saddle. The plates 21 contact with theinner sides of the bracket arms 24 and are provided with lugs 29received in the slots 25. Each of the plates 2! is also provided with anopening 30 communicating with the slot 25 and with a series of teeth 3ispaced around said opening. 30 Each plate 28 is rigidly secured byscrews or the like 32 to a suitable boss 33 formed integrally with theadjacent saddle 26, and said plate is provided with an integral stud 34passing through the opening 30. Plate 28 is provided also with .35 teeth35 engaging the teeth 3|. Suitable clamping nuts 36, preferably havinghand levers 31, are threaded upon the outer ends of the two studs 34 toengage the outer sides of the bracket arms 24. When these nuts 36 aretightened, the .40 saddles 24 are tightly held in fixed relation withthe bracket arms 24. When the nuts 36 are loosened however, the saddlesmay be adjusted longitudinally of the bracket arms 24 and may be tiltedvertically about the axes of the studs 34.

To assist in rigidly connecting the plates 28 with the saddles 25, saidplates may be provided with projections 38 embedded in the bosses 33. Ifdesired, the. studs 34 could well pass through openings in the plates 28and be welded to said plates so that the inner ends of said studs would.form the projections 38.

The lower sides of the saddles 26 are provided with integral aperturedlugs 39 with which rods 40 are rotatably and slidably engaged, said lugsbeing provided with set screws or the like 4| for holding said rods inadjusted position. These rods are adapted to underlie the lower portionsof the patients legs, and said rods are provided with foot plates orstirrups 42 to comfortably engage the feet. These foot plates orstirrups are preferably permanently secured to the rods 40 and it willbe seen that they may be adjusted in any required manner simply byloosening the setscrews 4|. These foot plates or stirrups, as well asthe saddles 26 are preferably provided with slots 43 to receive suitablestraps for securing the patients feet and legs engaged with thesupports.

By loosening the clamps i1 and swinging the brackets 28 so that the arms2! project in the desired directions, the distance between the twosaddles 26, may be varied as may be required, according to the size ofthe patient. By loosening the clamps 22, the rods 23 may be verticallyadjusted to dispose the patients legs at the desired height, and saidrods may also be turned about their own axes in said clamps 22 todispose the saddles 26 either in parallel relation or in any desireddiverging relations. By loosening the nuts 36, the saddles 26 may beadjusted longitudinally of the bracket arms 24 or they may be tilted toany required positions. Any adjustments of these saddles 26, necessarilyadjust the foot plates or the like 42 which are mounted on said saddlesby means of the rods 40, lugs 39 and screws 4!. After once looseningthese screws and adjusting the rods 40 according to the length of thepatients lower legs, said screws may be tightened and the foot platesneed no further adjustment with respect to the saddles.

Figures 8, 9, and 10 disclose three of the many ways in which thesupporting means may be adjusted according tothe requirements of thephysician, the exigencies of the case, the ease of the patient, etc. Insome cases, if desired, the brackets 20 may be removed and the rods 23engaged directly with the clamps I! or suitably secured to the beditself. Also, the rods 40 with the foot plates 42 may be detached fromthe saddles if required.

I claim:

1. In a leg supporting means for an obstetrical or similar bed, twosaddles shaped to underlie the patients knees, supporting and adjustingmeans mounting said saddles upon the bed, said supporting and adjustingmeans having portions for adjusting said saddles vertically, foradjusting said saddles longitudinally, and for tilting said saddlesabout transverse horizontal axes; foot plates to engage the patientsfeet, and means independent of said supporting and adjusting means andrigidly connecting said foot plates with said saddles for adjustmentunitarily therewith.

2. In a leg supporting means for an obstetrical or similar bed, twosaddles shaped to underlie the patients knees, supporting and adjustingmeans mounting said saddles upon the bed, said supporting and adjustingmeans having portions for adjusting said saddles vertically, foradjusting said saddles longitudinally, for adjusting said saddleslaterally into difierent spaced relations, and for tilting said saddlesabout transverse horizontal axes; foot plates to engage the patientsfeet, and means independent of said supporting and adjusting means andrigidly connecting said foot plates with said saddles, for adjustmentunitarily therewith.

3. In a leg supporting means for an obstetrical or similar bed, twosaddles shaped to underlie the patients knees, supporting and adjustingmeans mounting said saddles upon the bed, said supporting and adjustingmeans having portions for adjusting said saddles vertically, foradjusting said saddles longitudinally, for adjusting said saddleslaterally into difierent spaced relations, for pivot ally adjusting saidsaddles about vertical axes, and for tilting said saddles abouttransverse horizontal axes; foot plates to engage the patients feet, andmeans independent of said supporting and. adjusting means and rigidlyconnecting said foot plates with said saddles, for adjustment unitarilytherewith.

4. In a leg supporting means for a bed, one vertical clamp fixedlycarried by the bed, an inverted L-shaped bracket having its verticalportion clamped for rotative adjustment in said one clamp, thehorizontal portion of said inverted L-shaped bracket terminating in asecond vertical clamp, a vertical rod vertically and rotativelyadjustable in said second clamp, the upper end of said rod beingprovided with an integral bracket arm projecting longitudinally from thefoot of the bed, a leg support at one side of said bracket arm, andmeans adjustably mounting said leg support upon said bracket arm formovement longitudinally of said arm and for vertical tilting.

5. In a leg supporting means for a bed, one vertical clamp fixedlycarried by the bed, an inverted L-shaped bracket having its verticalportion clamped for rotative adjustment in said one clamp, thehorizontal portion of said inverted L- shaped bracket terminating in asecond vertical clamp, a vertical rod vertically and rotativelyadjustable in said second clamp, the upper end of said rod beingprovided with an integral bracket arm projecting longitudinally from thefoot of the bed, a saddle disposed at the inner side of said bracket armand shaped to underlie the knee, means adjustably mounting said saddleupon said bracket arm for movement longitudinally of said arm and forvertical tilting, a rod connected directly with said saddle andprojecting therefrom in position to underlie the lower leg,

and a foot stirrup mounted on said rod.

6. In a leg supporting means for a bed, one vertical clamp fixedlycarried by the bed, an inverted L-shaped bracket having its verticalportion clamped for rotative adjustment in said one clamp, thehorizontal portion of said inverted L- shaped bracket terminating in asecond vertical clamp, a vertical rod vertically and rotativelyadjustable in said second clamp, the upper end of said rod beingprovided with an integral bracket arm projecting longitudinally from thefoot of the bed, a saddle disposed at the inner side of said bracket armand shaped to underlie the knee, means adjustably mounting said saddleupon said bracket arm for movement longitudinally of said arm and forvertical tilting, a rod to underlie the lower leg, means connecting thisrod directly with said saddle for rotative and sliding adjustment, and afoot plate secured to and projecting upwardly from this rod in fixedrelation therewith.

7. In a leg supporting means, a support, a saddle to underlie the knee,means adjustably mounting said saddle upon said support, a rodindependent of said support and connected with said saddle in positionto lie at the back of the lower leg, and a foot plate mounted upon saidrod.

8. In a leg supporting means, a support, a saddle mounted on saidsupport to underlie the knee, the lower side of said saddle beingprovided with an apertured lug, a rod slidably and rotatively engagedwith said lug and projecting longitudinally from said saddle to underliethe lower leg, means for securing said rod in adjusted position in saidlug, and a foot plate secured to and projecting upwardly from said rod.

9. In a leg supporting means, a fixed vertical clamp, an invertedL-shaped bracket having its vertical portion rotatively engaged withsaid clamp, the horizontal portion of said inverted L-shaped bracketterminating in a second vertical clamp, a vertical rod rotatively andslidably engaged with said second vertical clamp, the upper end of saidrod being provided with a rigid bracket arm, a leg support at one sideof said bracket arm, and means adjustably mounting said leg support uponsaid bracket arm.

10. In a leg supporting means, a bracket arm having a longitudinal slot,aplate lying against one side of said bracket arm, said plate having anopening communicating with said slot and a lug received in said slot,the side of said plate opposite said bracket arm being provided withteeth spaced around said opening, a leg support provided with a rigidstud extending through said opening and said slot, said leg supporthaving teeth engaging the aforesaid teeth, and a clamping nut threadedon said stud and engaging the side of said bracket arm opposite saidplate.

11. In a leg supporting means, a bracket arm having a longitudinal slot,a plate lying against one side of said bracket arm, said plate having anopening communicating with said slot and a lug received in said slot,the side of said plate opposite said bracket arm being provided withteeth spaced around said opening, a leg sup port, a second plate rigidlysecured to said leg support and lying against the first mentioned plate,said second plate being provided with a rigid stud passing through saidopening and said slot, said second plate being provided also with teethengaging the teeth of the first mentioned plate, and a clamping nutthreaded on said stud and engaging the side of said bracket arm oppositesaid plates.

ADRIAN COMPER.

